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Finding of No Significant Impact Signed Related to Hunting Management Plan Environmental Assessment

The National Park Service (NPS) has selected alternative 3 of the Hunting Management Plan Environmental Assessment for implementation. Under the selected alternative, the NPS and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), in consultation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), will cooperate to implement an adaptive management strategy to manage hunting in the Preserve.

Based on the environmental analysis as documented in the management plan and with the due consideration for the nature of public comments, the NPS has determined that the selected alternative, is not a major federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment.

Based on the foregoing information, the NPS has determined that an environmental impact statement is not required for this project and thus will not be prepared, and a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was signed on May, 16 2014 by the NPS.

"The implementation of this alternative ensures the continuation of a Congressionally mandated recreational activity within the national preserve while providing for the protection of these special resources at the same time." stated Pedro Ramos, Superintendent, "The adaptive management aspect of the plan allows the responsible agencies to work cooperatively and adjust management as needed based on resource conditions."

Next steps in the process of implementing the plan will be to work with the FWC, in consultation with USFWS, to include the Addition Lands areas of the national preserve into the FWC's Big Cypress Wildlife Management Area (WMA). This process will include the establishment of regulations and seasons that will be developed and defined for all management units within the WMA.